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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 3 · The Status Quo · 33 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
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Canto 3 · Chapter 14: Pregnancy of Diti in the Evening
3.14.153.14.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.14.16

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.14.5inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

इति तां वीर मारीच: कृपणां बहुभाषिणीम् ।

प्रत्याहानुनयन् वाचा प्रवृद्धानङ्गकश्मलाम् ॥ १६ ॥

iti tāṁ vīra mārīcaḥ

kṛpaṇāṁ bahu-bhāṣiṇīm

pratyāhānunayan vācā

pravṛddhānaṅga-kaśmalām

Translation

O hero [Vidura], Diti, being thus afflicted by the contamination of lust, and therefore poor and talkative, was pacified by the son of Marīci in suitable words.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotion Gives Strength for Self-Control

  1. 1

    The purport describes overpowering sexual lust as sinful contamination. Diti's agitation made her distressed and excessively talkative.

  2. 2

    Kaśyapa was engaged in spiritual activities, but lacked the strength to refuse her firmly. His pacifying words also reflected his own inclination toward enjoyment.

  3. 3

    Vidura is addressed as a hero because no one is stronger in self-control than a devotee of the Lord. Devotional strength is greater than merely soothing an agitated desire.

Key points from the purport
  • When a man or woman is afflicted by the lust of sex desire, it is to be understood as sinful contamination.
  • Kaśyapa was engaged in his spiritual activities, but he did not have sufficient strength to refuse his wife, who was thus afflicted.
  • It appears that Kaśyapa was already inclined to have sexual enjoyment with his wife, and because he was not a strong man he tried to dissuade her only with pacifying words.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Threat and anger → Rescue and wonder. Divine protection appears amid cosmic confrontation.

Chapters 13–19 of Canto 3: Varāha, Jaya and Vijaya, Hiraṇyākṣa. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 14: Pregnancy of Diti in the Evening

Diti desires sons, her husband performs a forbidden act, and their sons’ destruction by the Lord is foretold.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. itithus
  2. tāmunto her
  3. vīraO hero
  4. mārīcaḥthe son of Marīci (Kaśyapa)
  5. kṛpaṇāmunto the poor
  6. bahu-bhāṣiṇīmtoo talkative
  7. pratyāhareplied
  8. anunayanpacifying
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 3.14

    In this verse: “contamination”, “sinful”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.14

    In this verse: “lust”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.14

    In this verse: “devotional”, “devotee”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Where do I need the strength of devotion rather than simply gentler words about my desires?

Practice

When a distracting desire arises today, pause and return to one spiritual activity instead of immediately acting on it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotion Gives Strength for Self-ControlThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 3.14.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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